Godspeed Mr. Nichols, We would like to Thank You for all you gave, and all you have given.. R.I.P. Shoestring, You will be greatly missed.. ✌

I’ve learned more about trains in this 40 minutes than in my 65 years of living.

As a 43 year Locomotive Engineer with the Union Pacific Railroad, Shoe string is pretty insightful. That loose handle on the top of that Covered Hopper car by slang is called a grab iron or hand hold and yes, that's a defect. The person who was talking about seeing the inside of the Locomotive cab, may I say that there are different configurations depending on the horse power and type of service the Locomotive is in. There are mid-cab, duel control Locomotives that has a control stand on each side so that you can operate the engine from either side so that you have a clear line of sight on your conductor or switchman. These are mostly what we call low horse power engines that service your rail customers that have line of sight issues when trying to pull or spot the rail cars. Your general cab configuration like on your GP15 & GP35 (General purpose) EMD Locomotives. Your SD40 & SD40-2 (Super duty) EMD Locomotives. Or the newer Comfort Cabs you now see on your high horse power road engines. The 2 major Locomotive makers are EMD, the Electromotive Motive Division of General Motors. Or the GE, General Electric Locomotives that came from the old ALCO Locomotive maker. The EMD is a 2 stroke diesel electric Locomotive. As the GE is a 4 stroke diesel electric Locomotive. The older Locomotives are DC, Direct Current powered traction motors. As the newer Locomotives are AC, Alternating Current powered traction motors. Keep them an the rail guys.

Shoestring. Reading through the comments I just realized that I owe some of your detractors a word of thanks. In thinking about how wrong they are, I suddenly realized another reason why I like your videos. Sure, the train info is great. But, more important is the fact that you are demonstrating freedom -- and it's refreshing. I've always thought of freedom as being at liberty to live your life as you see best -- as long as 1) you don't deny others the right to do the same, and 2) you accept full responsibility for your decisions. And that's exactly what you do. You've chosen to live life on your terms; you don't deny anyone else their rights (or even opinions); and you fully well know and accept the legal and safety risks of the lifestyle you've chosen. You, sir, are free and I like your videos because you remind me how precious freedom is -- and how rare it is becoming. Be safe, be safe, be safe! But more importantly: Be free. Very few are willing to do so nor are they willing to accept either the duty to leave others alone OR to accept responsibility for their own decisions. They don't care about freedom. They prefer to be safe. They've given up freedom for safety and Benjamin Franklin said those who will give up essential liberty for temporary security are not worthy of either. Thanks Shoestring.

Shoestring I'm glad I found your channel. You are a wealth of knowledge in railroading. CSX or UP ought to put you on the board of directors.

I started 4 days ago with hobo 1992 then stobe the hobo and now shoestring and I'm hooked ...I need more I battle severe depression and my best friend and my side kick is my German shepherd these videos help so much ...I've been homeless many times and I've thought about hopping trains ...thank you so much for giving me such great adventures

*_Shoestring. Aint it great to wake up & not be shaking for a drink & have a rotten hangover at the same time. OMG, that was a nightmare i never taught i'd get past but waking up now, smelling the fresh air, another day. Yeah bro_*

Sure do appreciate you shoestring. Your knowledge and your way of explaining things. Your vids also calm my anxiety down a lot. Thank you.

Thanks for mentioning Stobe. We still miss him.

We appreciate you Shoestring.

"I don't want to get used to people being nice." You said it, brother!

I'd like to take the time to thank you for sharing all this with us , It's times like we are in now where it might be easy to forget about to say thank You as often as we should ... Thank You sir for sharing these amazing adventures with us

Thats really Awesome when Your out watching a Train roll by and the Engineer calls out Your Name! ! ! ( SHOESTRING )!!! Thats got a make You feel good! Keep up the great work Shoestring...

My brother recently purchased a nice home in a very nice neighborhood east of Houston and found out the results of not doing enough research before he closed! There beyond his wood fence ,thick trees, and a grass levee is a track that is used and at 3:00am a fast moving train wakes his ass up every night as the house rocks and rolls! I feel for him but he was in just to much of a hurry to buy that place! Love your videos Shoestring! I love learning about them!

I truly admire your range and depth of rail knowledge, an American Icon.

Great to see you back, after covid. My 14 yr old daughter loves to watch you

I love how you walk around like you own the place..lol

Man shoestring, you know a pile about locomotives and rail lines! Super informative!

I grew up in a small Illinois town (at least it was back then) along the BNSF tracks coming out of Chicago. We always played along the tracks and when we got older we took the trains to Chicago or Aurora, Il just for the joy of riding on a train. We had two hobos who spent time camping in a shed along the tracks and they were welcomed by the community whenever they showed up.

I stumbled onto your videos just recently like many others have and must admit I'm addicted to your channel. Thanks for providing excellent content without the tasteless profanity that you often hear on other channels.

I stumbled upon your channel last night and now I am addicted to it! I will be binge watching your videos every day and night.

You’re a Gem Mr Shoestring and your knowledge is the envy of many. Always look forward to your video’s. Thanks for sharing even the tiniest bit of information to improve my knowledge of a wonderful subject!!! Take care and keep safe.

Very interesting the parts and processes of the trains and yard. Thanks for the knowledge, I look forward to more videos like this. Stay safe out there.

Shoestring you are the brain of trains. Thanks for all your great videos! Take care of yourself bro.

Another great lesson from the professor!! Loved the tour of the yard Shoestring! Wish you could have got in one of those engines! You are a fountain of information and cant thank you enough! I think that spending Christmas with the boys is a great idea! They need you in there lives and you yourself will enjoy!! Thanks for great video Shoestring B Safe.....

I would like to see a break down on each kind of rail car by Professor Shoestring 🚈🚈❤️❤️❤️

I found your channel by absolute hence a few days ago and I swear I'm hooked. It's so cool seeing how much you've learned about all thisbstuff over the years. I don't usually like to watch videos as long as yours but I never get bored of your fun facts and info, it's so fascinating as someone who knows almost nothing about trains. I'm learning so much.

I once heard a story, that a worker at the steel plant here, (now closed) got injured while working on tracks in the plant. When the plant nurse asked him what it was doing when he got injured, he answered "I was tightening nuts on a frog", he almost got fired because she thought he was being a smart ass.

I get a smile on my face everytime I see you posting videos thanks for everything

Thank you, Shoestring!!! You're what living in America is all about, FREEDOM!!! And that fact that I have always loved trains makes it all the more interesting to watch your videos 📹

DKPX is Duke Power Company. They're headquartered in Charlotte NC.

Thanks for the education Shoestring! Take care! Almost at 50k subs too!

Thank you shoestringer for sharing this video and explaining the grain hopper

Excellent! Love your videos.

Glad to see another video! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Stay safe and let us keep hearing from you. Love the story time videos and the narrated ride-alongs. Just love you explaining everything railroad. Please consider partnering with someone to put out Shoestring Hobo gear. I’d love to have a T-shirt or a hat with your logo. You might want to register that tag as a trademark so no one else can make money from it. Be safe.

You seem like a very nice feller I like your videos we used have trains in my town Bedford Indiana but they took last rail out around 2012 I’m 52 and work underground so it’s nice to just watch your videos and see stuff I did go truck driving for couple yrs after I got burned out quarry rock but back underground doing it again Stay safe and keep your videos coming Merry Christmas

Oh,, my,, I'm going to miss traveling with you so.. this video is quite interesting,,great nowlage, thanks shoestring, happy trails 👣 RIP

Your a fountain of knowledge, I am always fascinated and much appreciation for you sharing your knowledge . (I have a friend that’s been to a company in Ohio that bends rails and frogs using C4 explosives.)

I was cleaning out my garage and found three lanterns. One marked LIRR . Thank for the tour of the yard, something most of us will never see .

Yo shoestring, I finally took my first ride since my teenage years last week.. you've rode this rail line before here in central northern Indiana. did only bout 25 maybe 30 miles but for first time in bout well almost 20 yrs, thought it wasn't bad. Now that I've got the feel again I'm ready for a longer trip.

Every train i see reminds me of you and that I should live before it's over.

When I was younger we would find those roller bearings along the tracks. Along with springs and brakeshoes. I worked at a factory that made the brakeshoes at one time.

Awesome video. Extremely informative! Thanks for taking the time and don't get caught. good luck, looking for next upload.

Thanks for the tour Shoestring. As another gentleman said here I loved the way you walk around the yard like you own it. I'd be scared to be arrested. But thanks for the tour. I used to switch for the Western Pacific 40 years ago and once you get railroad in your blood you're always attached to it. I would love to go on a tour with you as you know how to move through these places without getting run out. I really enjoyed this trip and will subscribe and follow you around for awhild. Thank you.......... Happy New Year too.

Nice to see the driver give you a wave. Still catching up on all your videos since I started watching on Christmas day 2022.

This was a great video really interesting and very informative on car mechanics and operation. Your knowledge and ability to communicate so effectively makes your channel one of the best and a favorite. Thank you, really appreciate you and your videos.

I love the knowledge you put out about those trains and the equipment!!!

Dig your content. I'm too domesticated to ride the rails like you, but I love that you share your lifestyle with us.

Thanks for the tour, Shoestring! Those grainers have more room than many ship cabins.

Great information Mr. Shoestring always enjoy hearing you talk; even if you are just walking around 'thinking-out-loud' Thank You

Shoestring, It would be interesting if you had a live youtube session where your viewers could ask you questions about your experiences. You could plan ahead to let the viewers know ahead of time when to tune in

DKPX is duke power company. Your an inspiration shoestring! Have a great Christmas man

Thanks for the Educational on railroad yard very interesting 🤔

You are so knowledgeable. I enjoy all of your videos from start to finish.

Hey there from New Hampshire! Another great video Shoestring , thanks for the tutorial, very interesting as usual.

I grew up in Texas as a kid , I remember the trains running through Danbury . Used to sit by the light at railroad crossing and wait for it , reminds me of home appreciate the time you put forth in these videos, where I live now it’s providence /Worcester here

Watched the other first upload of this video. Very interesting. I like walking in and around yards when I can. Thanks for posting Out

I grew up one door from the RR tracks in N California in the ‘60s at the tail end of the heyday of hobo culture. The UP Railyard was my playground. I was well acquainted with most of the equipment described in ur video. On a daily basis 100s of sojourners passed my field of view in cars loaded with cattle machinery automobiles soldiers & military equipment. They traveled mostly in flatbeds & open cars, but many hobos rode atop containers or walked with their dogs & musical instruments in tow to a place unknown to me. The caboose trailed behind. “To where are they destined and from where do they come?” After a career on Capitol Hill I can still hop a moving train. Which might not be a bad skill set to acquire in these days & times. You represent something so true & authentic it could never be blinged. Thank u Shoestring for affirming this ancient American spirit & for answering the questions we all have about riding trains.

I love the knowledge and story videos! More!

I've always been intrigued by the thought of just hitching a ride. I even used to work for the railroad, saw a few travelers and wished them well. Be safe out there brother

I work for Timken....we make part of that bearing in my plant.....The final assembly is actually in Tennessee.

I’m truly captivated by your videos. Be safe & Thank You! Tyler G. Syracuse NY

I love this channel. If I’m having a bad day I can dream of hoppin a grainer with ole Shoestring and leaving my troubles behind.

Love your videos Shoestring!

Very informative. I took a trip to Johnson City and Elizabethton last summer to check the area out. It’s on my short list of places to retire. Very nice area.

When I take a nap, I go to youtube and select Calif. 150 trains-1hour or Full length Freight Trains-1 hour and turn it down kind of low and listen to the Clickety Klack and Loco Horns and go to sleep! Gota Love It!!!

Never seen those cars with the dual port holes, looks comfortable

Gotta admit I found the Hobo's knowledge about railroads - fascinating! Fun just listening to him - kinda a breath of fresh air.

May I suggest that for retirement you could work as a supply chain logistics consultant. Seriously.

Thanks for another great video. Enjoyed every single one and look forward to more. Take care of yourself and stay safe shoestring

Hey Shoestring, hope you're having a good time out there! Those cars are up there in age, those NAHX reporting marks alone say it! Awesome. Glad to see you up and about. Safe travels, brother.

I learn more watching your videos than dedicated railroad videos...

My friend thank you so much for your videos and I appreciate you taking the time to show us cool things we don't usually get to. Have a great Christmas!

enjoy vicariously living through your videos, stay safe.

What you call "ground air" we call "yard air". Same thing

This is for the Boston Blue Line Subway cars. 8.2.4.22 Dynamic Braking System The dynamic breaking system serves for normal service braking. The traction motors operate as generators. The kinetic energy of the train is converted into electrical energy. To decelerate the train, this energy can be supplied to the line or converted into heat by the braking resistors. The braking resistors are arranged at the roof of each car. The operation of the dynamic brake is fully independent of discontinuities in contact with the car and the third rail and the overhead trolley line, respectively. Two modes of dynamic braking are possible: • regenerative dynamic braking • rheostatic dynamic braking. In the first case, the voltage generated by the traction motors is applied to the third rail or the overhead trolley line. Regeneration is inhibited when there is no DC line voltage present (monitored by the ripple detection function), or when the feedback voltage exceeds the maximum line voltage of 800 VDC (i.e. the line is not or not enough receptive, the maximum regeneration voltage is software-adjustable). In these cases, the CCU automatically opens the line contactor and changes to rheostatic braking mode and the braking chopper applies the generated voltage to the braking resistors. The braking chopper is part of the Compact Inverter and operates with IGBT modules. If a train does encounter a dead overhead wire section and the train is in braking mode, it will raise the voltage to the maximum possible value. Since the dead overhead wire is not receptive, the regenerated current will drop to near zero and with no substation power supply active, the ripple does not exist. After the necessary delay time the ripple detection identifies the lost ripple and the system will initiate inverter/line contactor shutdown. During the ripple detection delay time plus line contactor opening time the train will stay connected to the dead overhead trolley wire. Once disconnected from the line, the rheostatic brake will be used until the train has come to a complete stop. 8.2.4.23 Braking Resistor The braking resistor assembly is mounted on the roof of each vehicle near the No. 2 Ends. It is insulated from the car body. The braking resistor is cooled by air and provided with air guides, heat shield and protective cover. The braking resistor consists of four high-power NiCr-alloy ribbon-type resistor elements which are connected in series to two resistor pairs (RB1 and RB2 in Figure 8-7). The voltage, which is generated by the traction motors during dynamic braking, is supplied to the braking resistors via the braking chopper (see Figure 8-7, item BCH). The electrical connection of the braking resistor is performed directly to resistor terminals via copper bus bars with M10 fixing holes via gland plate. Two types of braking resistors (Type Cressall and Type GINO) are used, which are interchangeable with each other.

“DK PX” marking on Coal Car is used by “Duke Power” which is a Power Company in the SE US. 👍

28:00 The engineer on the train was yelling Shoestring and waving at you.

Thanks for the knowledge shoestring! Love hearing u school us on riding the rails!

Classic Shoestring....one of his best videos. 👍

A great video Shoestring. You sure know railroading. You’d think you worked for the railroad. Take care and have a good one. 👍👍👍❤️🙏🏻

Hey shoe string. Keep on filming and ride the trains. 👍🍻🏆

I love it Box cars Very interesting there's of new info oh my impressive work about hobo Times on the rail BRAVE!!!!!😁

Another great one from shoestring stay safe brother love you and god bless

I love Johnson City Tenn. and Elizabethton, . My niece was married in Elizabethton.. We had a great time up in those hills~~ !! The BEST Karaoke singing I have ever heard and the best Blue Grass Bands I have ever heard, As I am from Athens, Ga, and I am a musician , I do know some good music and singing!!

Enjoyed this look at today’s railroad equipment. Thanks.

Have a great Holiday with your family Shoestring, Always enjoy your videos.

Love you buddy! I appreciate your knowledge.

If i wacthed all your videos i could almost apply for a job at a yard. Thanks for the knowledge shoestring

Thank you shoestring for the upload. I love watching your videos. Stay safe bro.

Im a big fan of your channel - Such freedom... I'm going through a breakup hard times. This clearing my minds. Thank! ✌🤠

Good after noon Shoestring. Went to start the original upload and went off. But hopefully I can watch this one! Merry Christmas to ya ol man!

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing.😉. Remember the " Singing Breakman " Jimmie Rodgers🤔. A genuine breakman till switching to a singing entertainer🎸🎻🎶. (1926 thru 1933).most popular song " Break man's Blues "😭. Viewing this episode from the comfort zone of my computer🖥 room. Along the" Space Coast " 🚀 of Florida🐊🐊🐬🐬. Wonder if Hobo " Shoe 👞 String ". Spent any time in this region-???🤔. Wishing viewers a safe/healthy/prosperous(2024) 🌈🎉🌞💵😉

Locomotives have controls in their cabs that have to be set depending on if it's a lead unit or a trailing unit or a DPU . I rode many a mile when I worked for Union Pacific and I saw amps get as high as 1350 amps , make the hair raise on your neck .

RIP SHOESTRING! I love you... Hope to meet you in the afterlife!!!

I was on the yard at Hodgen Okla. for a year. I got 10 years for an oz. of weed. I refused to wear a wire and went to the penetentiary. I used to go to the East end of the yard away from everyone to hear that train roll thru. Yea I cried but nobody saw. I still love that sound. I damn sure appreciate Freedom!

I love it! A welcome mat and red carpet.

Great video Shoestring as usual I'm enjoying it very much. Till next time my friend. Be careful out there buddy.

thank you for this video it was very interesting to learn something new stay safe and warm

Duffy Littlejohn is finally doing KZfaq videos! Thanks for the great content